Peer-to-peer wagering

Abstract

Peer-to-peer wagering is provided to customers matched over an interactive gaming network. A customer can match to another customer to play a gaming match of a video game over a gaming server or network. The two customers can access a wager portal with which to place a wager on the outcome of their gaming match. The customers agree to a wager over the gaming match via the wager portal. The wager includes a wager amount. The customers can each provide the wager amount to the wager portal. The customers can proceed with playing the gaming match. The wager portal monitors the match outcome by connecting to the gaming server to determine the outcome. The wager portal determines which customer won the gaming match and therefore won the wager. The wager portal transfers the wager amounts to the winning customer or customer account.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 brokering a digital match between a first party and a second party, wherein the brokering includes a wager between the first party and the second party over an outcome of the digital match;   receiving funds from at least one of the first party or the second party;   determining the outcome of the digital match in favor of one of the first party or the second party; and   releasing funds to either the first party or the second party based on the outcome.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a ranking of at least one of the first party and the second party based on the outcome of the digital match, wherein the ranking is computed based on one or more metrics of the digital match, and wherein the ranking reflects a level of skill of the first party or the second party.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 conducting the digital match via a digital video game; and   updating composite rankings, wherein the composite rankings are determined across a plurality of digital video games.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a ranking of at least one of the first party and the second party based the outcome of the wager.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating a cumulative rankings according to the outcome of the wager, wherein the cumulative rankings include a plurality of parties;   determining a top party according to the cumulative rankings; and   providing a reward to the top party, wherein the reward is one of a sponsorship or extra funds.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining the funds in escrow until the outcome of the digital match is determined.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 wherein the funds are block chain funds or distributed ledger based funds.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recording a video of the digital match; and   providing playback of the video of the digital match, wherein playback is accessed for a payment from a viewer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 interfacing with a gaming server to determine the outcome of the digital match, wherein the outcome of the digital match is one of an outright winner or a higher scoring party.   
     
     
         10 . An electronic e-sports wagering platform system, comprising:
 brokering a digital match between at least two parties, wherein the brokering includes a wager between at least one first party and at least one second party over an outcome of the digital match;   receiving funds from at least one of the first party or the second party;   determining the outcome of the digital match in favor of one of the first party or the second party;   releasing funds to either the first party or the second party based on the outcome; and   determining rankings of at least one of the first party and the second party based on at least one of the outcome of the digital match and the wager.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining a ranking of at least one of the first party and the second party based on the outcome of the digital match, wherein the rankings are computed based on one or more metrics of the digital match, and wherein the rankings reflect a level of skill of the first party or the second party.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 conducting the digital match via a digital video game; and   updating composite rankings, wherein the composite rankings are determined across a plurality of digital video games.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining a ranking of at least one of the first party and the second party based the outcome of the wager.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 updating a cumulative rankings according to the outcome of the wager, wherein the cumulative rankings include a plurality of parties;   determining a top party according to the cumulative rankings; and   providing a reward to the top party, wherein the reward is one of a sponsorship or extra funds.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , comprising:
 maintaining the funds in escrow until the outcome of the digital match is determined.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , comprising:
 wherein the funds are block chain funds or distributed ledger based funds.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 recording a video of the digital match; and   providing playback of the video of the digital match, wherein playback is accessed for a payment from a viewer.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic e-sports wagering platform system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 interfacing with a gaming server to determine the outcome of the digital match, wherein the outcome of the digital match is one of an outright winner or a higher scoring party.   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a wager between at least one first party and at least one second party over an outcome of a digital match;   receiving funds from at least one of the first party or the second party;   determining the outcome of the digital match in favor of one of the first party or the second party;   releasing funds to either the first party or the second party based on an outcome; and   determining rankings of at least one of the first party and the second party based on at least one of the outcome of the digital match and the wager.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 wherein the funds are held in escrow until the outcome of the digital match is determined.